Candance Kimbrough-Green, MD

I saw my dermatologist for another issue and mentioned that I would like to consider doing "something" to mitigate the family jowls and under neck fat pad I had seen developing. I'm no skinny mini but I have lost some weight and it just made the issue more obvious. I am 51 and people can't guess my age. I've never had a cosmetic procedure of any kind. Dr. Green suggested AccuTite with Morpheus 8. I opted just for AccuTite this time. I attended an info session and booked my appointment.

I did a lot of research before the appointment. Dr. Green was also very attentive and answered any questions I had. She marked my face and took "before" pictures. I received a topical anesthetic and after a while was brought into the procedure room.

At this point, tumescent anesthesia (anesthesia delivered in saline to pump up the skin) was administered via very large syringes with impressive needles. I happened to think the whole thing was fascinating but if you are afraid of needles, you would want to cover your eyes. I did feel the needles as a little pinch, but tumescent anesthesia is amazing. I could feel the doctor and her assistants touching my face but I couldn't feel a bit of pain throughout the whole procedure. Once Dr. Green decided I was sufficiently numb, the procedure began.

Dr. Green "pre-tunneled" into an area by my left ear and then used the radio frequency of the AccuTite device/machine to melt the fat and firm up the skin. There were 3 entry points - at each ear and under the chin. I'm not sure what I expected but after she was done, there was a lot of massaging and pushing as she used suction to remove a lot of fat. I read that some procedures do not require the liposuction but I certainly received it. The whole procedure took about an hour. I was at the office for about 2.5 hours.

Once I was done, I was given aftercare instructions. It dawned on me that I was going to be paying, walking out of the office and driving home with a rather unattractive pressure garment on my head and permanent marker on my face (to be fair, the assistant did try to get some of this off but it's "permanent"). I was advised to wear the pressure garment for 48 hours and then overnight for at least 2 weeks until the swelling subsided. I was given a prescription for antibiotics.

I took it easy for those 48 hours. There was considerable swelling under my chin and on my neck. I seem to have received a slight burn on my neck and had some bruising, likely caused by the lipo massaging. The most uncomfortable part of this phase was the pressure garment. It's pushing on a swollen area and while it didn't really hurt, it was uncomfortable.

So, I'm on day 4 after AccuTite. I'm going into the office tomorrow. I'll be wearing a scarf to hide the burn and the swelling. I've noticed an improvement in the swelling each day but I still look a bit "bullfroggy", which is not what I was going for - ha! The bruising is largely gone. I notice there's kind of a knot under my chin and I wouldn't be surprised if my gland wasn't swollen (this is common for me). It's a little numb under my chin.

I'm looking forward to every day of healing and have been taking pix. I'm no model and just wanted to include "real info" for those wondering. Feel free to ask any questions and I'll update as I heal.

Updated on 10 Dec 2019:
How do you go to work with a swollen under chin? Have your procedure done in the winter and wear a scarf! I have a big scab under my chin because of that entry point. A lot more fat was sucked out of that area, I think. The scarf is working and no one is questioning it.

Updated on 14 Dec 2019:
Yesterday marked one week since the procedure. Still have considerable (but not uncomfortable) swelling under my chin. When I touch my chin and jowls, it’s still a little tingly/numb. I think I look about the same or a little puffier than before. Looking forward to things tightening up. You know, when you see the before and great after pictures, I think it’s hard to remember there is definitely an “in-between”.

Updated on 27 Dec 2019:
Three weeks out and the swelling is going down ever so slowly - but it’s still there, especially on the right side. I’m sure the unevenness in the two side will be better over time. I still have a pea sized lump at the insertion point under my chin. The other two entry points have healed nicely.

The jowls are still there - this is what I really went in for so hoping they’ll start receding. It’s something I’ll talk to the doc about at my 6 week checkup.

Updated on 17 Jan 2020:
Saw my derm on Wednesday. She said she was pleased with the results. She pointed out that my neck has much more definition and I agree. I am not disappointed, however the main reason that I went in for AccuTite was to deal with my jowls. She thinks that I will still see tightening at the three-month mark and then even more at six months. She is still recommending Morpheus8 with some filler to pump at the notches on either side of my chin and using the same vial, likely to raise the corners of my mouth. thinking about it. May do one Morpheus8 treatment anyway to deal with skin texture. A single treatment is $1500. Have to decide.

I still have a darker mark under my chin with a teeny bit of a bump that is going away.

Updated on 16 Jun 2020:
Frankly, I’m not even going to add a picture because nothing has changed. At first, I really felt that perhaps my neck area looked smaller. But remember, I went in for my jowls and didn’t get the service
For which I paid. I just feel like I still have some fat under my chin that she really didn’t get. This procedure might really be worth it for some, but I’m gonna say that I wish I had saved my money.